Post Tagged with: "Middle School Boys’ Soccer"

Middle School Boys’ Soccer Team Finishes in 1st Place in Atlantic Cape Junior High League

By Robby Barberio

As soccer season comes to an end, our middle school teams both posted winning records for the season.  Congratulations to the Middle School Boys’ Team for finishing in first place in the Atlantic Cape Junior High League with an undefeated record of 8 wins, 0 losses, and 3 ties. The Middle School Girls’ Team finished its season with a record of 5 wins and 4 losses.

The Middle School Boys played a tie-breaker game at home on November 1 to determine first place in the League. The Cougars came out with a 2-0 victory over The Pilgrim Academy. 8th grader Micah D’Anna scored both goals. The Girls finished their season on October 26 with a game against Alder Avenue Middle School.

Both teams welcomed new coaches this year –Becky Pineo as the Middle School Girls’ Coach and Silas Nixon as the Middle School Boys’ Coach.

Pineo, originally from Lewiston, Idaho, has coached soccer, basketball, softball, and tennis. She coached at Cumberland Christian School, Pleasantville High School, and Buena Regional High School.

“One reason I decided to coach at ACS is the love I have for the sport of soccer!” Coach Pineo said. “But above all getting to glorify Jesus through coaching is my passion!”

Nixon coached his first-ever team this year. Born and raised in Northfield, New Jersey, he played soccer as a youth and always enjoyed watching soccer. He attended his first-ever ACS soccer game last fall and expressed an interest in coaching to Athletic Director Pam Hitchner. A few days later, Mrs. Hitchner asked him to coach. After praying about it, Coach Nixon decided to take the position.

“Coach Nixon did a great job with the team and the boys worked hard under his leadership,” Hitchner said. “Last year, the team had a strong group of 8th graders who moved up to high school, but the players who moved up into active playing time this year really improved in their skills and teamwork. It was exciting to watch them play.”

 

 

 

Varsity Soccer Season Gets Underway, Middle School Soccer Tryouts Run From Sept. 8-12

Our high school soccer pre-season got underway on August 22, with two weeks of practices before the Varsity Boys’ faced off against Life Center Academy in Westampton, NJ on September 1, losing a close 3-2 non-conference game against a nationally-ranked team. Middle School Boys’ and Girls’ Soccer Tryouts will be on September 8, 9, and 12, from 3:00-5:00 p.m.

In the September 1 game against Life Center, 10th grader Chase Leach scored both ACS goals and 12th grader Jake DeNick defended strong in the goal. The Varsity Boys will play in their first home game on Friday, September 9 against Abundant Life Academy of Nutley, NJ. Faculty member Chris Lopez is in his first year as the Boys’ Varsity Head Coach, leading a talented team that finished in second place last season in the Tri-State Christian Athletic Conference (TSCAC).

Both the Varsity Boys’ and Girls’ teams will play at home against American Christian School from Rockaway, NJ on September 12.  ACS alumnus Carly Witherow (’08) is in her 8th year as the Varsity Girls’ Head Coach, with five TSCAC championships under her belt.

ACS welcomes two new coaches for the Middle School teams — Silas Nixon for the Middle School Boys’ team and Becky Pineo for the Middle School Girls’ team. Any middle school student interested in playing on an ACS team should come prepared to tryouts with cleats, shin guards, a water bottle, and completed athletic participation forms. The packet of Athletic Forms is available in the school office and on the ACS App and website under the “Athletics” tab. An Athletic Fee of $150 will be due for all Middle School players on the team roster.

The Middle School teams will face their first opponent on Friday, September 16 at home against Gloucester County Christian School, with a 4 p.m. start time.

Athletic Calendars with information on all upcoming soccer games are posted on the ACS website and ACS App and are updated as needed. The calendars can be found on the “High School Athletic Calendar” and “Middle School Athletic Calendar” pages under the “Athletics” tab.

We’re looking forward to an exciting season. Come on out and support our outstanding and competitive soccer programs.

 

Get Ready for Middle School Soccer Tryouts on Thursday, Sept. 9 After School

Calling all middle school boys and girls to put on their cleats and come out for soccer tryouts on Thursday, September 9, starting at 3:30 p.m.  Our middle school teams will be playing against public and non-public schools in the competitive Atlantic Cape Junior High League. Come on out and be a part of a program that focuses on teamwork, building skills, and learning the importance of good sportsmanship.

Leading the teams as coaches will be Casey Hopwood, in her 8th year as head coach of the Girls’ team, and ACS parent David O’Donnell, in his first year as head coach of the Boys’ team.

The first games of the middle school season will be on Thursday, September 16 away at Gloucester County Christian School in Sewell. Information on all upcoming middle school games is posted on the ACS website on the “Middle School Athletic Calendar” page under the “Athletics” tab and can also found on the ACS App. The calendar is updated as needed.

Please make sure that all your student’s athletic participation forms are completed by the first day of practice. The packet of Athletic Forms is available in the school office and on the ACS website and App under “Athletics.” An Athletic Fee of $150 for Middle School players will be due for all players who make the team rosters.

We’re looking forward to a great season.

Students Wear Green-and-White, Show Support for ACS Soccer Teams at Nov. 4 Pep Rally

ACS students and staff wore green-and-white on Wednesday and the 6th-12th graders gathered outdoors near the Varsity Boys’ Soccer Field for a fun-filled Pep Rally to show their support for our middle school and high school soccer teams, one day before the Varsity Boys’ and Girls’ teams were set to compete in their semi-final playoff games in the Tri-State Christian Athletic Conference.

To start off the Pep Rally, Athletic Director Pam Hitchner introduced the players on each team and congratulated them for their outstanding records this season.  At the Middle School level, the Middle School Boys’ team was undefeated  and the Middle School Girls’ lost just one game. The Varsity Girls’ team also was undefeated in the regular season, finishing in first place, with a 10-0 record, and the Varsity Boys’ team had an 8-2 record and tied for first place in the regular season.

As middle school and high school students and faculty members cheered them on, the players from the four teams faced off in some friendly competition in contests that showed off their individual soccer skills. After competing in three games — Keep Away, Juggling, and Nothing But Net — the Varsity Boys’ Soccer team finished in first place with the most points and won a free pizza party.

In individual competition, 10th grader Moges Johnson, a member of the Varsity Boys’ Soccer team, won first place in two of the games — Keep Away and Juggling.  In an impressive display of juggling, which involved bouncing the soccer ball off of his foot, Moges achieved 214 total bounces in 2 minutes.  10th grader Eden Wilson, a member of the Varsity Girls’ Soccer team, came in a close second place, with 203 juggles. In Nothing But Net, 8th grader Taylor Murphy took first place, successfully kicking the soccer ball into the back of the soccer goal net without the ball hitting the ground, from the six-foot line, the 18-foot line, and finally from 24 feet out. All the individual winning players received Wawa Gift Cards for their efforts.

 

Middle School Soccer Teams Post Strong, Winning Seasons

Congratulations to our Middle School Soccer teams for posting a strong, winning season this fall.  The Middle School Boys’ team was undefeated with an 8-0 record  and the Girls’ team was 8-1.

Both teams played their final games at home on October 26. The ACS Boys, under head coach Brandon Stevens, beat King’s Christian School 3-1  and the ACS Girls, under head coach Casey Hopwood, beat Cumberland Christian School 4-3.

Since 2008, the ACS Middle School teams have competed in the Atlantic Cape Junior High League, but due to the coronavirus outbreak, the league cancelled this year’s season. “In spite of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, we were able to put together a solid season of non-league games and we’re so proud of the success of both teams,” said Athletic Director Pam Hitchner. “I have told our players many times that we have a lot to be grateful for.” (Photo credit: Katherine Kong)

ACS faced off against Pilgrim Academy on Thursday, October 29 and the Girls’ team won 5-1 and the Boys’ team won 1-0. In the Girls’ game, 8th grader Taylor Murphy scored 3 goals and 8th grader Sophia Johnson scored two goals. 6th grader Micah D’Anna scored the lone winning goal for ACS in the Boys’ game.

 

Middle School Soccer Season Off to a Great Start

Our Middle School Soccer teams are off to a great start, winning their first games of the season at home against Pilgrim Academy on September 21. The Girls’ team, under head coach Casey Hopwood, won 3-0, and the Boys’ team, under new head coach Brandon Stevens, beat Pilgrim 6-1.

On September 22, the MS Girls played away at King’s Christian School and beat their co-ed team 3-2. Both teams will play next on September 29 against Pilgrim Academy at their home field. The full schedule of the season is posted on the Middle School Athletic Calendar on the ACS website.

8th grader Taylor Murphy was the top goal scorer on the 20-member Girls’ team, scoring two goals in both the Pilgrim and King’s Christian games. 8th grader Rebecca DiMaio scored 1 goal  in the Pilgrim game and 7th grader Lydia McCarthy scored a goal in the King’s Christian game.  7th grader Anyae Welch played strong defense in the goal.

In the Boys’ game, 8th grader Chase Leach led the offense on the 17-member team with three goals. 8th grader Charlie Costello, 6th grader Justice Settles, and 8th grader Alek Stein each scored one goal. 6th grader Ethan Costello and 8th grader Judah Dawkins each had one save playing in goal.

We’re excited to see these teams continue to grow and develop their skills. Go Cougars!